COMMUNICATION DEVICE OR PACKET TRANSFER METHOD

摘要

The present invention provides flexibility that supports high-speed transfer processing and various formats in a communication device. A communication device comprises packet processing-only hardware (301) which performs packet retrieval and transfer processing, and a packet analysis processor (401) capable of programmably performing packet format analysis and packet transfer processing. The packet analysis processor (401) determines whether a packet format is processable by the packet processing-only hardware (301), and when the packet format is not processable by the packet processing-only hardware (301), converts a packet to a processable packet format and transfers the packet to the packet processing-only hardware (301). The packet processing-only hardware (301) has a function of retrieving normal L2 frame / L3 packet, and a specific format converted by the packet analysis processor (401), and as the result of the retrieval, determines the destination of the packet, and outputs packet conversion information. The packet conversion information, together with output destination port information, is transferred to the packet analysis processor (401) on the output side. The packet analysis processor (401) which receives the packet outputted from the packet processing-only hardware (301) creates a packet tailored to the format of a network to which the packet is to be outputted on the basis of the packet conversion information, and transfers the packet to the network.